Border closure paralyses economic activities in Chad, Cameroon

The closure of Nigerian borders in Borno, Yobe, Niger and Plateau states with neighbouring countries is having a negative effects on the economies of the latter.

The Nigerian Ambassador to Chad, Alhaji Abdullahi Omaki, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in N’djamena.

He said, “The volume of trade, largely unrecorded, is about 80 per cent in favour of Nigeria.

“Most of the goods and services coming into Chad, 80 per cent come from Nigeria with less than 20 per cent coming from Cameroon.

“If the borders were not closed and you go through the Banki and the Gambo roads you will see the number of trailers that are plying those routes on a daily basis.

“Now that the border has been closed with effect from the end of last year, if you ask the Cameroonian authorities, they will tell you how much they are losing in terms of revenue that they collect from these vehicles that pass through Banki and Gamboru.’’

The downturn in economic activities at the border areas with the neighbouring countries followed President Jonathan’s declaration of a state of emergency in 15 local government areas in Borno, Yobe, Plateau and Niger states last December.

Affected local government areas in Borno which partly have contiguous border with Cameroon and Chad are; Maiduguri Metropolitan, Gamboru Ngala, Banki Bama, Biu and Jere.

In the declaration, the President also directed the closure of land borders contiguous to the affected LGAs as part of measures to tighten security and check cross-border terrorist activities.

He also underscored Nigeria’s commitment to Protocols on Free Movement of Persons and goods signed by ECOWAS member countries and noted that the border closure was an interim measure that would be reviewed as soon as normalcy returned.

Please keep it closed at least for now, if these countries care much about the lives of Nigerians and the economic benefits derived from Nigeria, they should taken appropriate steps to stop export of terrorism and explosive devices through their borders into Nigeria. ECOWAS can relax (I’m being moderate) for now, this is about the national security of Nigeria and not ECOWAS. Until long term peace return to the north, these atrocious borders should remained closed.

http://www.punchng.com Abdul Abdul

This measure is long overdue. Please let it remain closed for now. And there should be means of an identity 4 Nigerians and strict mornitoring on how people and goods pass our border.

http://www.judyk.com Gen. Judyk Eze

Even if the borders ar closed the terror will stil contimue bcos their citizens already in Nigeria ar enough to unleash terror. 60% of the meruwas(water vendors) ar them and nigeria muslims like them more than the southerners and christians.

Madu

It is assumed that the federal Goverment has failed in its bit to bring this comon criminals to justice, we the honorable youths in this country are demanding that the house of assembly should sign into law the liberty for everyone to carry arms to protect öneself. You cannot be killing us like goats and expect us to fold our hands and wait for one chicken Gov. To protect us. The time has com for all nigerias to raise up and fight for our lifes.

Columnists

"Mr Orubebe, you are former minister of the Federal Republic, you are a statesman in your own right and you must be careful about what you say and about the allegations or accusations that you make and certainly you must be careful about your public conducts."

INEC's Chairman, Attairu Jega cautioning Orubebe over his conduct during the release of the Presidential election results.